Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Dec 18, 1954)

Page scan 0004 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Dec 18, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Dec 18, 1954)
Leaf #:
0004
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Editors: Merrick R. Nutting (1917-18), Raymond S. Peck (1918), Ray Lewis (1918-19 and 1920-54), Walter Greene (1919-20), Jay Smith (1954-57)

Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57) was initially a Montréal-based rival of the first film paper in Canada, Toronto-based Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18, edited by W.A. Bach 1915-17, J.W. Cambridge 1917-18, Raymond S. Peck 1918). The two periodicals were combined in 1918, keeping the Digest name, but moving production to Toronto with Peck as editor. Canadian Moving Picture Digest assumed The Bulletin’s volume numbering and always claimed 1915 as its year of origin. Ray Lewis (née Rae Levinsky) was a writer and playwright, who spent time in early Hollywood’s publicity departments. She briefly took the Digest helm in 1918, then long-term editor, later owner and publisher, from 1920 until her death in 1954. Under Lewis’s leadership, the trade paper claimed to serve as a voice for independent exhibitors and advocated for a Canadian cultural presence in cinema, particularly emphasizing British films as a way to keep a distance from Hollywood. Lewis's editorials were notable for their advocacy, wit, and critique of American dominance in the Canadian film market. While initially positioning herself as an outsider, she became integrated within the industry and a true insider. She even had an ongoing correspondence with Canadian Prime Minister R. B. Bennett, advocating for the industry as a whole and supporting British film imports. She was well-known at Toronto’s Dundas Square film row as well as in New York and Hollywood. Variety’s Sime Silverman called her “the Girl Friend in Canada,” and she delighted when U.S. writers not “in the know” presumed “Ray” was a man’s name. Lewis was later an inaugural member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, eventually the group’s first female president and Pioneer of the Year. After she died in 1954, her son Jay Smith took over editorial duties until Canadian Moving Picture Digest was bought by Nat Taylor’s Film Publications of Canada in 1957. Taylor incorporated the legacy journal into a joint masthead for Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70), which subsequently dated its roots back to the 1915 origins of the film press in Canada.

– Jessica Whitehead and Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Whitehead, Jessica, Louis Pelletier and Paul Moore, “‘The Girl Friend in Canada’: Ray Lewis and Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1915–1957).” In Daniel Biltereyst and Lies Van de Vijver, eds., Mapping Movie Magazines: Digitization, Periodicals and Cinema History, 127-52. London: Pagrave-Macmillan, 2021.

Date Added:
June 13, 2024
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—_—_— ee SS eee ee, eee Fox Provides Exhibitors With Campaign Book On Stereo Sound A special exhibitor campaign book on stereophonic sound devised for promotional use by theatres having complete stereophonic sound installations has been prepared by 20th Century-Fox. The latest sales aid issued by the company as part of its program of * servicing exhibitors with technical and promotional material on recommended procedures for CincmaScope exhibition, the book contains complete advertising, publicity and exploitation campaigns for the merchandising of stereophonic sound to the public. Acknowledgement is made by 20th Century-Fox in the manual to Mr. Sidney L. Bernstein, of Granada Theatres, Ltd., London, Mr. Joseph F. Bugala, of the Monessen Amusement Company, Greensburg, Pa., and other exhibitors for ideas and campaign suggestions which have been incorporated into the press book. Reproduced in the book are campaigns submitted by theatremen on stereophonic sound which have resulted in boxoffice advantages achieved in conjunction with the presentation of CinemaScope pictures. The publicity section of the manual contains a series of news stories describing the development of stereophonic sound and its association in the world-wide success of CinemaScope. The advertising section presents a group of tye-arresting ads selling stereophonic sound. Ads, in one, two and three column sizes are adaptable for any Company’s CinemaScope pictures in stereophonic sound. Special ads for campaigns on “The Miracle of Stereophonic Sound,” CinemaScope short subject explaining stereophonic sound comparing it to regular opticas sound, also are carried in the ad section. This CinemaScope subject is being made available free to theatremen by the film company. The manual also contains suggestions for the exploitation of stereophonic sound via lobby and theatre-front displays, heralds, throwaways and direct mail pieces to local civic and scientific organizations, newspaper editors, broadCasters and telecasters and to the theatre’s regular mailing list. Ideas for space-getting stunts and conests also are outlined in the section. The book is being sent to every one of the 3,500 theatres in the United States and Canada currently equipped with stereophonic Sound. It is also going to al] Jead ing production and exhibition executives and advertising and publicity directors. Theatremen overseas also will be supplied with the press book for use in all parts of the world. New Look For Granada Ready For Xmas The Granada Theatre at Hamilton has been closed down for a complete modernization project. Earlier this year the Hamilton Tivoli was given the full treatment by Famous Players Canadian Corp. but without interruption to performances. Manager Paul Turnbull said he expected the New Granada to be in operation for Christmas week. Warner Bros. Acquire Independent Picture “Unchained,” produced independently by Hall Bartlett Productions, has been acquired for worldwide distribution by Warners, it is announced by Jack L. Warner. The picture, starring Elroy Hirsch, Barbara Hale, Chester Morris, Tim Considine and Todd Duncan, was filmed at the Institution for Men at Chino, with Bartlett as writer-director-producer. Free 20 Minute Reel From Para. ‘Paramount Presents VistaVision’ — “Paramount Presents VistaVision,” a 20-minute product presentation, will be made available free to theatres early in January, A. W. Schwalberg, President of Paramount Film Distributing Corporation, announced in Hollywood last week. The featurette was filmed at the studio with many of the unusual technical aspects of picturemaking integrated into the production. Thus it will give motion picture audiences an “inside view” of Hollywood never before seen on the screen. Five hundred prints will be made of the featurette, which .will be handled through division man#gers and supported by an extensive advertising campaign. It was decided to give “Paramount Presents VistaVision” to the theatres following the enthusiastic approval of the subject when it was screened at the International Promotion Coordination meeting held December 6-11 at the Paramount Studio. “Paramount Presents _ VistaVision” shows scenes from ten Paramount pictures, all filmed in VistaVision, the studio’s revolutionary new photographic process which has received widespread critical and public acclaim. The productions are: Irving Berlin's “White Christmas,” starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen; Alfred “Hitchcock’s “To Catch A Thief,” starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly; “Strategic Air Command,” starring James Stewart and June Allyson; Pine-Thomas’ “The Winst. Barron ((right), 2 chats snfaeetall’? In Hollywood with Danny Kaye at the latter’s home. Representatives t’s week long (Dec, 6-11) promotion and sales meetings held at the studio eae Wa by Kaye to enjoy an evening at his home. The photographer was on hand when Danny drew his old friend Barron aside for a chat about Canadian doings. Paramount’s Advertising-Publicity Director for Canada, Far Horizons,” starring Fred MacMurray, Charlton Heston, Donna Reed and Barbara Hale. Also, Hitchcock’s “The Trouble With Harry,” starring Edmund Gwenn and John Forsythe; “The Seven Little Foys,” starring Bob Hope (as Eddie Foy) and Milly Vitale; Pine-Thomas’ “Run For Cover,” starring James Cagney, Viveca Lindfors and John Derek; “We're No Angels,” starring Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov; Pine-Thomas’ “Lucy Gallant,” starring Jane Wyman and Charlton Heston, and Hal Wallis’ “Three Ring Circus,” starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. DCA Owners Rep Over 1000 Theatres The Distributors Corporation of America, organized recently by 35 theatre owners who operate an estimated 1,000 theatres, will introduce a new method of releasing movies, according to Fred Schwartz, president. Mr. Schwartz, who also is president of the Century theatre circuit in New York says the company will distribute its pictures on an area basis rather than nation-wide, as is the general custom. Advertising will be concentrated on the various local levels at the time pictures are to be shown, Schwartz says, instead of, as frequently happens, trailing by a month or more the advertising in national magazines. He says the distribution system also will represent savings by reducing the number of prints of pictures necessary to cover the country. F The corporation is in production with a cartoon version in color of the Broadway stage fantasy “Finian’s Rainbow” and has engaged top stars to provide the voices for the film. It also will produce the Edison Marshall novel. “The Vikings,” in England and Norway, and has Western Hemisphere distribution rights to the film version of “I Am a Camera,” to be made next month in England with Julie Harris and Shelley Winters. Robert Aldrich, producer and director of “The Way We Are,” has made a deal with the Distributors Corporation of America to finance and distribute the film, which will star Joan Crawford. In Canada distribution will be through Alli ance Films.